Taos Projects

Pilar Re-Route Project

Natural gas began flowing March 15, 2018, through the new 12-inch Taos Mainline in the Rio Grande Gorge south of Taos.

Pipeline installation was completed and New Mexico Highway 68 was fully reopened at the end of February. Next came integrity testing, cleaning and finally the new pipeline was welded to the existing mainline and commissioned in mid-March.

It was a complex project in a challenging location and New Mexico Gas Company salutes our contractor and company team members for their commitment to safety. It is a source of great pride that we completed the work with no injuries.

During the 1960s, the Taos Mainline was installed on the west side of the Rio Grande between Rinconada and Pilar. Because of shifting soils, our engineers decided to move the pipeline to the east side of the river in the right-of-way of Highway 68. 

The Taos Mainline delivers natural gas to customers in Taos, Questa, Red River and surrounding communities.  
 

Taos Ski Valley Line Extension

Discussions about this project started in 2014. Property owners were interested in extending natural gas, electric, telephone and fiber optic cabling services to Taos Ski Valley and the surrounding areas in a joint trenching effort.  

The project gained final approval in September 2015. Crews installed a distribution backbone consisting of 10 miles of 6-inch pipeline along New Mexico Highway 150 from Arroyo Seco to Taos Ski Valley. The two-lane road rises in elevation from 7,634 feet to 9,207 feet. 

Construction stopped for the winter season but resumed in April 2016 and was completed by the end of 2016.